India faced a major blow on Day One of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford when vice-captain and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was forced to retire hurt from the match after taking an awful knock to his right foot.
Pant, who looked in good touch with a brisk 37 from 48 balls, suffered the injury when he attempted a reverse sweep off England allrounder Chris Woakes and inside-edged the ball onto his foot. He survived an lbw appeal and a review but he was in evident pain and couldn’t put weight on his foot.
Pant’s medical team was on field to checkout the injury and after a couple of minutes, he was transported off the ground in a golf buggy. Because of the swelling on his right foot, there were fears he may have sustained a fracture and he was taken to a hospital nearby for scans. Captain Shubman Gill was seen at the medical facility before he left Old Trafford.
Speaking after the day’s play, B Sai Sudharsan, Pant’s batting partner, confirmed the extent of the injury. “Oh, he was in a lot of pain, definitely,” Sudharsan said. “But they’ve gone for scans. We will know more during the night.”
England spinner Liam Dawson also offered his condolences, saying he “can’t see him playing much more part in this game.”
Pant’s injury comes as another setback for India, who already had worries about his fitness after he had taken a knock to his left index finger in the previous Test at Lord’s. Dhruv Jurel had stepped in as a substitute wicketkeeper on that occasion.
Prior to the injury, Pant was playing some of his typically audacious strokes, including a slog sweep for four off Jofra Archer. Unfortunately, his attempted reverse sweep off the very next ball led to the injury and now leaves his later participation in the match – and perhaps the series in grave jeopardy.
Read More: India National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Timeline
